No loss of life has been reported in the Kullu and Mandi districts so far. Heavy damage to public and private property was reported on Thursday owing to the downpour that triggered a flash flood downstream in the Beas River from Palchan to Patlikuhal in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district. The weather office also warned of the possibility of landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas of Kullu, Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla and Kinnaur districts
Shimla: At least 36 people were missing after a cloudburst in Rampur in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district, officials said on Thursday.
Rescuers have rushed to the spot for relief and rehabilitation operations.
The Meteorological (MeT) office in Shimla has issued an ‘orange’ alert for heavy to very heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, at isolated places in the state for the next 24 hours.
Reports say flash floods in the Beas and Parvati rivers in Kullu district have damaged public and private property.
After heavy rain, a dam of a hydropower project in Malana located on the Parvati River has burst.
Malana Power Company Ltd. has implemented the 86 MW Malana Hydroelectric project on the tributary Malana, Parvati River in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.
The construction of the 86 MW project was started in January, 1999 and it was commissioned in 2001. Malana Hydroelectric Project was successfully commissioned in the year 2001 by LNJ Bhilwara Group. Presently, the company is owned by Bhilwara Energy Limited (51%) and Statkraft, Norway (49%).
The Kullu administration has issued an alert, advising people not to go near the river and water channels.
The weather office also warned of the possibility of landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas of Kullu, Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla and Kinnaur districts.
Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the police, and local rescue units have been rushed to the affected area.
The Chief Minister has convened an emergency meeting in the secretariat here following three cloudbursts across the states, an official statement said.
Heavy damage to public and private property was reported on Thursday owing to the downpour that triggered a flash flood downstream in the Beas River from Palchan to Patlikuhal in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district.
No loss of life has been reported in the Kullu and Mandi districts so far.
Scores of bridges in Palchan and Nehrukund have been damaged due to flooding in the river, officials said.
A newly constructed vegetable market building collapsed in Kullu. The National Highway between Kullu and Manali has been hampered due to a flood near Kalath.
Seeing the rising waters, people living on the river banks in Nehrukund, Bahang, Rangdi, Aloo Ground, Kalath, 17 Mile, 15 Mile and Patlikuhal fled from their homes. The road in Palchan has been damaged.
The Manali-Leh road has been closed due to massive landslides. The Manali administration remained busy throughout the night alerting people.
Rain has been continuing since Wednesday evening. Although the water level of the Beas River has decreased, the danger persists.
Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) (Manali) Raman Sharma told the media that the police personnel kept alerting the people living on the river banks by sounding sirens throughout the night. He urged people to leave their homes only in case of emergency and not to travel.
Union Minister and BJP chief J.P. Nadda spoke to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and took information and assured all possible help from the Central government.
Nadda also spoke to former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and directed all BJP workers to engage in relief operations.
Himachal flash flood: Bridges damaged, building collapses in Kullu